Children's Home run by Progressive Futures Care Limited in Sefton

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC061924 1 SC061924 Registered provider: Progressive Futures Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is managed by a private provider and offers care for up to three children who experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a new manager in post. He was made suitable in May 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this visit, there were no children living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit was undertaken on 20 May 2025. The inspectors found that leaders had failed to notify the placing authorities and Ofsted that they had been served with an eviction notice in October 2024. The registered manager reported that he had only been made aware by leaders about this eviction notice on 16 May 2025.

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This monitoring visit

Prior to the monitoring visit, Ofsted had been made aware of a complaint made by a neighbour against the provider. This was discussed with the manager during the inspection. He has taken action to address some of the concerns with immediate effect. However, further work is required to strengthen practice.

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This monitoring visit

During the visit, inspectors identified shortfalls in the home environment. For example, there were pieces of wood containing nails in the garden, rat traps had been laid and were visible, a tumble drier was situated in the garden, and a fence panel was missing. These items present as a risk to any children living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Prior to the monitoring visit, Ofsted had received information from a placing local authority about a child who had previously lived in the home. The child had gained access to the staff computer and downloaded confidential files onto a USB pen drive. The local authority had notified the provider when this was brought to their Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC061924 2 attention, who completed an investigation. However, the registered manager was unable to locate the investigation report and was unclear on the outcomes or actions. Therefore, the regulator is unable to determine if suitable action has been taken to safeguard children.

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This monitoring visit

Due the concerns highlighted at the visit, a decision was made to issue a notice of restriction to the provider.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements were not reviewed from the last full inspection. These will be looked at during the next full inspection. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC061924 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/05/2024 Full Good 19/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC061924 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the manager challenges the local authority effectively when plans are not robust. 11 July 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d)) 11 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC061924 5 The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(d)(c) (3) (4)(a)) 11 July 2025

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC061924 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Progressive Futures Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 55 Hoghton Street, Southport, Merseyside PR9 0PG

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Inspectors

Judith Birchall, Social Care Inspector Nicola Forrester, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC061924 7 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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